Relationship Between Self-Awareness as an Outcome of Psychological Support Interventions and Optimism: A Study of Perceptions of Youths in Charitable Children's Institutions in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Growth of self-awareness among vulnerable youth is linked to development of positive developmental trajectories in life like optimism. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between self-awareness, as influenced by psychological support interventions, and levels of optimism among looked-after youths. The study employed convergent parallel mixed methods design. Validated questionnaire and an interview guide were tools for data collection.  The study investigated how self-awareness, as influenced by psychological support interventions, are associated with optimism as perceived by looked-after youth. The study found that youth in residential care found psychological support interventions helpful in enhancing self-awareness. However, reintegrated youth are uncertain about the effectiveness of these interventions. The optimism level among residential care youth was higher than reintegrated youth. This suggests that families where reintegrated youth are deployed may be facing challenges in creating an environment for them to grow out of their traumatic past and become optimistic. The chi-square findings suggest that the provision of psychological support interventions significantly enhances self-awareness and optimism among participants. The study recommends that efforts should be made to improve the quality of residential care through professionalization care services. The growing global push to promote family-based alternatives and eliminate institutional care as the principal choice for children in need of protection must be done in a way that children do not fall into more vulnerabilities.